Washington/05.01.22/Turan: Washington on Wednesday expressed its concern about the adoption of a new media bill that critics say was designed to limit independent journalism in Azerbaijan, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.
“We are concerned that the Azerbaijani Parliament appeared to rush the process of sending the proposed media law to the Presidential Administration for ratification,” a State Department spokesperson said in response to TURAN’s request for comment.
"We hope that the Presidential Administration will carefully consider input from independent journalists, media experts, and international groups, including the OSCE, as it reviews the draft law", the spokesperson added. "We will continue to follow the issue closely."
The proposed law, which sets up a database for media organizations and requires journalists to be registered with the state, was adopted by the Azerbaijani Parliament on December 30, and is yet to be signed by the President. Local media and rights groups have said that the law could impose potentially wide-ranging restrictions on freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.--0--
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Politics
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Javid Ramazanov, an employee of “Toplum” Internet television, was taken to the Baku City Police Department today. Ramazanov was detained on the street and taken to the police, “Toplum TV” informed.
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Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova to Montenegro met with the President of this Balkan country, Yakov Milatovich as part of the official visit. According to the press service of the Milli Majlis, Gafarova conveyed to Milatovich the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan to participate in the Baku climate conference COP29. The parties discussed the prospects of bilateral relations. Milatovich noted with satisfaction that Azerbaijan is one of the main investors in Montenegro. Stressing the high level of cooperation, he emphasized the development of ties in the field of tourism.
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A bipartisan group of U.S..lawmakers on Friday introduced a bill that would enable sanctions against senior Azerbaijani officials for their role in the Karabakh war, and human rights violations, including violent repression of political opposition, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
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The Biden administration said on Friday that reauthorizing the Global Engagement Center (GEC), a State Department agency that’s tasked with combating foreign propaganda and disinformation, "is a priority."
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